A lot of people have been talking about the legacy Bill Gates will leave the world, and in the process of commenting on him, make mention of how he changed the world. And that is an accurate statement.
But what history will show is Bill Gates has changed the world not because of his philanthropic efforts, or even his understanding that software was the key, and licensing it before the PC became a commodity product.
Rather he will be recognized as changing the world because of the empowering of capitalism across the world through the software he and Microsoft (MSFT) developed. It can be summarized in one phrase: increased productivity. Of course software more than empowered capitalism, but that was the foundational purpose and important aspect that resulted in the rest.
The story of Bill Gates and Microsoft is a great lesson in the power, value and triumph that capitalism and business represent. While his is one of many stories, it is unique in that he was part of an apex that comes around maybe once every generation which takes everything to another level. Gates road the crest of that wave, the reason he is who he is and his name ubiquitous around the world.
Just like the ferry, train, banking and automobile changed the world, the software of Microsoft will also be viewed that way in history.
Most importantly, all this things eventually made life better for people, primarily because it gave business new tools to use to better serve their customers. Again, it goes beyond that, but overall that's why these inventions were so important. If they weren't able to be adapted for use by business, they would have went the way of the dodo bird. If it can't be monetized, it won't last. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
The reason Bill and Melinda Gates even have a foundation is because of the power and success that capitalism brings. The reason so many people will be helped is because someone created a great business that was able to generate significant income which ended with billions of dollars available to be spent on targeted, needed areas.
Capitalism is so powerful and helpful because it not only creates jobs, products and services which make life so much easier for people, but because the creation of those products and services also generate extra revenue which can than be applied to the needs of people around the world.
There is nothing even close to capitalism that can do that for people. That's the triumph, more than anything else, that Bill Gates and other successful business visionaries represent.
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Bill Gates is just a part time worker now. I miss him already
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